Flare or fusee signal



Aug. 24, 1937. Q s FRlzzr-:LL ET AL 2,090,911

FLARE OR FUSEE SIGNAL Filed July 1, 1936 Cha/fla fazz @Z 'j' C/zaner Mcww Patented Aug. 24, l 937 NITED STATES PTENT OFFIE FLARE OR FUSEE SIGNAL ration of Ohio Application July 1, 1936, Serial No. 88,287

5 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to flares or fusees for use in giving a danger signal, and more particularly to those that are used on highways, by trucks or other motor vehicles, and which have to be set i up in position, one way or another, on the paving,

in order to insure the desire result.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby the are or fusee is provided with supl porting means by which it can be positioned at the desired angle, on the paving of a highway, without the necessity of using a. separate support, the fiare or fusee and its supporting means forming a structural and self-contained unit that can be used on cement paving, or in other places where the ordinary flare or fusee, provided with a spike, could not be used except by providing a structurally separate support therefor.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efiiciency and desirability of a combined flare or fusee and support therefor of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafer set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective of a combined fiare or fusee and supporting means therefor, involving the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the invention in use on a pavement or other surface.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 3-3 in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the supporting means as applied to the are or fusee signal.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 of the drawing.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises the usual cylindrical flare or fusee, having the body portion l and the cap or head 2, which latter can be removed when it is desired to ignite the flare or fusee.

The lower end portion of the body I, which latter is filled with powder or other combustible material, has a bail-shaped wire device applied thereto, with the two parallel leg portions 3 formed to tightly hug the sides of the body l, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. A cap 4 is telescoped over the lower end of the body l and over said wire device, in the manner shown, and glued in place, so that the wire device is thus rmly attached to the lower portion of the body of the flare or fusee.

In use, the legs 3 are bent down and spread apart, to engage the pavement or other surface, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This, it will be seen, will hold the flare or fusee at the desired angle at which it burns best. Preferably, the ends of the legs 3 are bent around at 5, to provide smooth ends which will not be liable to catch on anything when the ares or fusees of this kind are manufactured and handled in various Ways, and are packed in boxes for shipment.

Thus, no separate or special support is necessary for the use of a flare or fusee of this kind, on the highways where the hard pavement precludes the use of the usual spike on the lower end of the flare or fusee. In other Words, in accordance with the invention, as shown and described, each fiare or fusee has its own individual supporting means, not in spike form, but in such shape that the signal can be used on cement paving or any other hard surface, without the necessity of providing a separate support of some kind. By leaving off the ordinary spike, and by proportionately increasing the length of the tubular body, a. greater quantity of powder or combustible material may be carried in the are or fusee. 'I'he wire device with its legs 3, and the cap or short tube 4, are comparatively inexpensive to make and apply.

It will be seen that the lower end of the cap or sleeve 4 also engages the pavement or other surface, so that a three-point supporting contact is provided with said surface. The legs 3can be bent into shape to support the body I at the desired angle, with the body inclined toward the legs, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and in which position a flare or fusee of this kind is found to burn more satisfactorily.

It will be observed, therefore, that the invention in effect provides a three-legged tripod for holding the fusee in more or less upright position, in position for turning. The wires 3 form two legs of the tripod, while the base portion 4 forms the third leg thereof. 'I'hus a three-point suspension is provided that will easily accommodate itself to an even or uneven road or other surface.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A flare or fusee having a body portion, and

`supporting means attached to the lower end of said body portion, in a manner not to interfere with packing in boxes for shipment, but movable into position to support the Hare or fusee on a pavement or any hard surface, in the desired position for burning, said supporting means comprising a bail-shaped wire device parallel with and embracing the lower end portion of the body, with a cap telescoped over the lower end portion of the body. to attach said wire device three legged tripod with the spikeless base of the fusee forming one leg thereof, said supporting 'means comprising a bail-shaped wire device parallel with and embracing the lower end portion of the body, with a cap telescoped over the Ylower end portion of the body, to permanently attach said Wire device firmly in place on the sides and bottom of the lower end portion of. said body, the legs of the bail above said end portion being bendable to curve them over and downwardly and thereby bring their ends into position for engagement with said surface, with the lower end of said cap adapted to also engage said surface.

3. A structure as specied in claim. 2, one or more of said legs being of metal and bendable into any desired position.

4. A. spikeless flare or fuse@ having a body portion, and supporting means attached to the lower end of said body portion, in a manner not to interfere with packing in boxes for shipment,

but movable into position to support the flare or fusee on a pavement or any hard surface, in the desired position for burning, forming in effect a three legged tripod with the spikeless base of the fusee engaging the pavement and forming one leg thereof, said supporting means comprising a bail-shaped wire device parallel with and embracing the lower end portion of the body, with a cap telescoped over the lower end portion of the body, to attach said wire device firmly in place, the legs of the bail being bendable to bring their ends into engagement with said surface, with the lower end of said cap adapted to also engage said surface.

5. A are or fusee having a body portion, and supporting means permanently attached to the sides of the lower end portion of said body portion, in a manner to extend snugly and unattached along the sides of the body portion above said lower end portion and facilitate packing in boxes for shipment, but movable downwardly into position to support the flare or fusee on a pavement or any hard surface, in the desired position for burning, forming in eect a three legged tripod with the lower end of the usee body engaging the pavement and forming the free foot of one of the three upwardly converging legs of the tripod.

CHAS. S. FMZZEEL. CMR MCDONEL. 

